Direct Action Day - Muslim League Proclamation (16 August, 1946) - This Day in History

 

What is the Direct Action Day?

The Muslim League Council proclaimed 16^th August 1946 as ‘Direct Action Day’ in order to accentuate their demand of a separate Muslim homeland after the British left the Indian subcontinent. Their main aim was to attain a different country with a Muslim majority.

 

 

Direct Action Day – Series of Events

• In 1946, the Cabinet Mission was sent to India by the British government to find a resolution to the conflict between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Muslim League on the issue of independence. The two parties were the largest in India’s Constituent Assembly.
• The League wanted a separate homeland for the Muslims they called Pakistan while the INC wanted a united India.
• The Mission was not successful since the League and the Congress could not agree on the point of a united India with a strong centre.
• Since the Mission failed, the Muslim League announced 16^th August as Direct Action Day and called for a general hartal in order to protest the INC’s stand and demand vehemently a separate homeland.
• The Chief Minister of Bengal at that time was Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy of the Muslim League. The League announced that there was to be a mass rally presided over by Suhrawardy. Processions of people would come from different places and meet at the Ochterlony Monument to attend the rally.
• The rally started at noon, although there were instances of forced closing down of shops, stabbing and stoning from morning itself.

It is believed that when Muhammad Ali Jinnah asked the people to ‘suspend all business’, he did not expect the riot to get so violent. However, the outcome of this Direct Action Day turned out to be extremely violent and took the lives of hundreds of people in both countries.

 

 

Direct Action Day – Outcome

• League leaders gave fiery speeches at the rally which got the massive crowd excited.
• This was followed by large-scale rioting in Calcutta. Around 4000 people were killed on the first day. The riots involved killing, rape, forced conversions and looting.
• Many people blame Suhrawardy for inciting the people and then failing to put an end to the violence as Chief Minister.
• Some also put the blame on the Governor of Bengal, Sir Frederick John Burrows for not taking control of the situation.
• This communal violence soon spread to other parts of northern India particularly Bihar. Noakhali (now in Bangladesh) saw gruesome violence.
• The violence witnessed during and after the Direct Action Day has also been called the Great Calcutta Killings. Some of the places saw rioting on the scale of what can be termed genocide.
• India’s independence was overshadowed by thousands of people getting killed or tortured in various riots particularly in eastern, northern and north-west India. The Calcutta killings were the first of such pre-independence rioting.
• All this bloodshed and communal tensions ultimately led to the INC’s acceptance of the partition of the country in order to suppress the violence and blood bath.

 

Also on This Day

---

1886: Death of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Guru of Swami Vivekananda. 1932: British government in India gives separate electoral representation for the ‘Depressed Classes’.

 

 

#Credits2Byju'sIAS

 

 

 

Lunar Eclipse or Chandra Grahan

Lunar Eclipse Illustration

The planetary phenomenon when the shadow of the Earth falls on the Moon is known as Lunar Eclipse.

Whenever Lunar Eclipse occurs it occurs on Full Moon day. Full Moon day is known as Purnima day or Pournami day in Hindu calendar.

During Lunar Eclipse the sunlight to the Moon is blocked by the Earth. The light reflected through the Earth's atmosphere makes the Moon visible during Lunar Eclipse. If there was no reflected light through the Earth the Moon would have become invisible during Lunar Eclipse. Due to reflected light from the Earth, the Moon looks reddish during Lunar Eclipse.

The shadow of the Earth, which falls on the Moon during Lunar Eclipse, can be divided into Penumbral and Umbral regions. Due to property of Physics all planetary shadows form two regions which are known as Umbra region and Penumbra region. From diagram it is clear that Umbral region is dark as no sunlight reaches to this region while Penumbral region is not fully dark as some sunlight reaches to this region.

When the Moon comes under Umbral region completely Total Lunar Eclipse is observed from the Earth. If the Moon passes partially through the Umbral region but doesn't pass it completely then Partial Lunar Eclipse is observed from the Earth.

Penumbral Eclipse occurs when the moon passes through Penumbral region of the shadow without touching Umbral region of the shadow. Penumbral Lunar Eclipses are of less important and often go unnoticed as those are not visible to the naked eye. Hindu calendar does not even list Penumbral Eclipse and ignores it completely.

It should be clear by the diagram that during Total Lunar Eclipse, Eclipse starts with Penumbral phase, moves to Partial Umbral phase and finally moves to Total Eclipse phase. Moon remains under Total Eclipse phase for some time before returning back to Partial Umbral and subsequently returning back to Penumbral phase before coming out of Eclipse completely.

It is interesting to note that at some locations on the Earth a Total Lunar Eclipse or a Partial Lunar Eclipse might be observed as a Penumbral Eclipse only. It happens when moonrise occurs when the Moon has come out to Penumbral region from Umbral region or when moonset occurs when moon is just about to move into Umbral region from Penumbral region. Similarly at some locations on the Earth a Total Lunar Eclipse might be observed as a Partial Lunar Eclipse due to same reason.

In a year there might be total 0 to 3 (0 and 3 inclusive) Lunar Eclipses. Total Lunar phase of an Eclipse lasts for one to two hours and total length of complete Lunar Eclipse from Penumbral to Penumbral is about four to six hours. A Lunar Eclipse has almost equal probability of being Total Lunar, Partial Umbral/Lunar or only Penumbral one.

Scientifically it is safe to watch Lunar Eclipse with naked eye either during Partial Lunar phase or Total Lunar phase of the Eclipse.

Central Assembly Bombing by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt - [April 8, 1929] This Day in History

08 April 1929

Central Assembly bombing case               

---

What happened?

On 8 April, 1929, revolutionaries Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs at the Central Legislative Assembly at Delhi.

Central Assembly Bombing Case

• At about 12:30 PM on 8^th April, 1929, as the President of the Central Assembly (akin to today’s Lok Sabha Speaker) Vithalbhai Patel began to give his ruling on the Trade Disputes Bill at the Assembly, an explosion occurred and the hall began to be filled with smoke.
• There were slogans raised by young men from the Visitors’ Gallery, stating ‘Inquilab Zindabad’, ‘Workers of the world unite’, and ‘Down with imperialism’. The voices belonged to two young revolutionary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt (also called B K Dutt). They also threw pamphlets into the hall.
• Both the men did not flee the scene or try to evade arrest after the act. They willingly courted arrest.
• Both of them were members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Their motive, as stated by them, was not to kill or injure people, but to ‘make the deaf hear’.
• Bhagat Singh, who masterminded the attack, was inspired by the French anarchist Auguste Vaillant who had bombed the French Chamber of Deputies in the year 1893. Vaillant was executed for the act.
• In the 1929 attack, nobody was killed and only a few people had sustained minor injuries.
• In fact, the revolutionaries only wanted to spread their ideas of revolution and inspire Indians to fight British imperialism, apart from protesting the unpopular bills that were being enacted in the assembly that day.
• Among those present in the Hall were Motilal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Madan Mohan Malaviya, John Simon (of the Simon Commission) and others.
• Both Singh and Dutt courted arrest even though both the bombs were thrown by Singh alone.
• The trial started in May 1929. Lawyer Asaf Ali represented Dutt while Singh defended himself during the trial.
• In June, the verdict was pronounced and both Singh and Dutt were sentenced to ‘transportation for life’.
• In the meantime, the case of the murder of ASP John Saunders was linked to Bhagat Singh who was then charged in that case as well. He, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, was executed for the murder case on 23 March 1931.
• Dutt took part in the freedom movement after his release from incarceration. He died in 1965 after a prolonged illness. He neither received any recognition from the Indian government nor financial support despite being a part of one of the most illustrious chapters of the freedom struggle.

Also on this day


1894: Death of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, writer and poet who composed 
the Vande Mataram.

Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)

 

The Local Area Development Scheme known as MPLADS is a government scheme launched on 23rd December 1993. This central sector scheme was developed as an initiative to enable the parliament members to recommend developmental work in their constituencies based on locally felt needs. These developmental works mainly focused on the areas of national priorities such as drinking water, education, public health, sanitation, roads, etc. 

The scheme, Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) was started by the late Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. This scheme is now administered by the Ministry of Statistics and Implementation but was initially administered by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Key Features of MPLADS

In addition to the regular State Government departments and the three levels of Panchayats, the rural areas of many districts are also being serviced by Area Development Authorities/Rural Development Boards. These organizations receive sizeable grants from both the Union and the State Governments for schematic expenditure in their jurisdiction with emphasis on crop improvement, creation of minor irrigation facilities, up-gradation of local infrastructure and other area-specific needs. 

Government schemes are an important part of the UPSC syllabus. Aspirants must be thorough with the objectives and the activities of these major schemes for the IAS exam.

Some of the key features of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) are:

• It is a government-funded scheme where the annual fund provided to each MP constituency is Rs. 5 crores.
• The initial assistance under the MPLAD scheme was Rs. 5 lakh / MP. From 1998-99 onwards, this amount has been increased to Rs. 2 crore / MP and the amount currently available under this scheme has been increased to Rs. 5 crore rupees.
• Recommendation by the MPs should be done annually with works costing at least 15 percent of the MPLADS entitlement for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 percent for areas inhabited by the S.T. population. 
• A sum of Rs. 75 lakhs is provided for building assets by trusts and societies as per the scheme guidelines to encourage the trusts and societies for the betterment of tribal people.
• Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their Constituencies and Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State of Election. Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.

Implementation of MPLADS

• An MP is required to provide his/her choice of the nodal district to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in a prescribed format. A copy of the same should be given to the State Government and the District Magistrate of the chosen district. 
• The government of India releases an annual entitlement of Rs. 5 crores in two equal installments. This amount is given to the District Authority of the Nodal District selected by the concerned MP.
• The Implementing Agency should be identified by the District Authority. The Implementing Agency should have the capability to execute the eligible work qualitatively, timely and satisfactorily. 
• All the recommended works must be sanctioned within 75 days from the date of receipt of the recommendation after the completion of all formalities. If any work is not sanctioned within the prescribed time period, the District Authority shall, however, may inform the MPs regarding the rejection of the work within 45 days from the date of receipt of recommendations.
• The scheme can also be converted into individual/stand-alone projects under the Central and State Government schemes provided they meet the eligibility conditions of MPLADS. 
• Funds from local bodies can be similarly pooled with MPLADS works but the funds provided by other scheme sources should be used first. MPLADS funds should be released later for the successful completion of the project. As soon as a work under the Scheme is completed, it should be put to public use.

Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev Were Hanged - [March 23, 1931]

23 March 1931

Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged by the British

---

What happened?

Revolutionary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death by the British government for their activities on March 23, 1931 at the Lahore Jail. This day is observed as ‘Martyrs’ Day’ in India.

Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev

In this edition of This day in History, you can read about the martyrdom of revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev for the cause of Indian independence. This is an important episode in the freedom movement and as IAS aspirants, you must be aware of the background and details of it.

• When national leader Lala Lajpat Rai died of a heart attack in November 1928 after he was brutally lathi-charged on the orders of the Superintendent of Police James A. Scott, Bhagat Singh and his associates vowed to avenge his death.
• Singh and Rajguru shot and killed an Assistant Superintendent of Police of Lahore, John Saunders in a case of mistaken identity. Nevertheless, they proclaimed that Lala Lajpat Rai’s death had been avenged.
• As Singh and Rajguru fled, Chandrashekhar Azad shot a police constable Chanan Singh who was pursuing the revolutionaries.
• The young revolutionaries were on the run for many months.
• They were all members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association which was an organisation involved in revolutionary activities. They believed that only an armed revolution could bring about freedom from colonial rule.
• In April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw two bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly at Delhi to protest an unjust bill. Their intentions were not to harm anyone but only to publicise their struggle.
• The two did not flee from the scene after the chaos and courted arrest shouting, ‘Inquilab Zindabad’. Singh and Dutt were given life imprisonments.
• Other revolutionaries including Rajguru were arrested from a bomb factory at Lahore. The police were then able to link the revolutionaries to the Saunders murder case. They charged Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and others in this case.
• In prison, the revolutionaries started a hunger strike demanding better treatment and facilities. They wanted to be considered political prisoners.
• Jatin Das died after more than 60 days of hunger strike. The strike gained huge publicity and the revolutionaries got a lot of support and sympathy from the public.
• Even the Viceroy Lord Irwin returned from his vacation in Shimla to discuss the matter with the prison authorities.
• The revolutionaries were met with political leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru. He had remarked, “I was very much pained to see the distress of the heroes. They have staked their lives in this struggle. They want that political prisoners should be treated as political prisoners. I am quite hopeful that their sacrifice would be crowned with success.”
• Bhagat Singh finally ended his fast after 116 days.
• The trial of the young men drew widespread attention in the country. On 7 October 1930, Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were sentenced to death while others were sentenced to imprisonment and deportation.
• The death sentence was widely protested by various people. National leaders appealed to the government to reduce the sentence to life imprisonment. Even the Communist Party of Great Britain expressed disapproval of the sentence.
• The trio were ordered to be hanged on 24 March 1931 but the sentence was carried out a day earlier at the Lahore Jail. After the hanging, their mortal remains were cremated in secret.
• There was a the huge backlash against the government for the execution of the heroes. The three young men were true martyrs who did not fear even death and really seemed to welcome it.
• Their courage and ultimate sacrifice for the motherland’s cause should never be forgotten.
• March 23rd is observed as ‘Martyrs’ Day’ or ‘Shaheed Diwas’ or ‘Sarvodaya Day’ in India in honour of the eternal heroes.

Also on this day


1757: Robert Clive captured Chandannagar from the French.
1898: Birth of Assamese poet Nalinibala Devi.
1910: Birth of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia.
1940: The Lahore Resolution was passed by the Muslim League which called for a
separate Muslim homeland. This day is observed as ‘Pakistan Day’ in Pakistan.

First Census of Free India - [February 9, 1951] This Day in History

What happened?

The first census of India after independence started on 9 February 1951 and enumeration continued till 28 February 1951. The country’s population was counted as 36,10,88,090.

Background

• India has a long history of census. Even the literature from the Rig Veda reveals that population count was taken during those periods. Chanakya’s Arthashastra also indicates the importance of taking census as a measure for taxation. In the middle ages, Mughal Emperor Akbar also had some sort of population count.
• In the modern era, census began with the British authorities holding census for the town of Allahabad in 1824. After that in 1827-28, Benares also had a census.
• The first complete census of an Indian city was done for Dacca (now in Bangladesh) by Henry Walter in 1830.
• Similarly different regions had its census taken in various years. In 1865, the government of India decided that a general census of the country would be taken in 1871.
• In 1866-67, actual counting of heads was taken in most parts of the country and this came to be known as the Census of 1872. Not all territories were covered under this though. In this first nation-wide census, 17 questions were asked pertaining to name, age, religion, caste/class, nationality or race, ability to read/write, and whether attended school or college. Males were asked a separate question on occupation also.
• After that every ten years, regular census has been conducted by the government.
• 1941 saw the last census before independence. After India attained independence, the Bhore Committee recommended the government to appoint a Registrar General of Vital and Population Statistics at the central and the provincial levels.
• As per the Committee’s recommendations, the Census Act came into effect in 1948. The 1951 census was conducted in accordance with this act.
• The 1951 census’s enumeration period was from 9^th to 28^th February. Questions were asked pertaining to an individual’s name, age, religion, sex, relationship, economic status, principal and subsidiary means of livelihood, mother tongue and literacy.
• The National Register of Citizens of India (NRC) was prepared after this census.
• The whole state of Jammu & Kashmir was omitted during this census and the data for this state was taken based on past figures.
• This census revealed the population of the country to be 36,10,88,090. The male to female ratio was 1: 0.946.
• Only 18% of the population was literate and the average life expectancy was a mere 32 years.
• As per this census, 72,26,000 people migrated to Pakistan and 72,49,000 people migrated to India during the partition.
• The last census was taken in 2011.